Yumi sighed again, unable to bear recalling the despair and pain in the little girl's diary. Even though she knew it was just a story set in a dungeon, she was still moved. After all, humans were emotional beings, not cold machines.
Seeing Yumi fall silent, Ke Wuwen couldn't help but press on, "What happened next? What were the conditions for clearing the dungeon?"
"Later," Yumi turned back. They were no longer on the rooftop of that old apartment building, but she still remembered how the little girl had died tragically. Her voice was heavy, "The boys threw the little girl's body on the rooftop. Her vengeful spirit lingered, killing those boys to avenge herself. Fearing repercussions, her parents found a master to seal the ashes of the children in the bedroom of the house. Then they left the apartment building. The condition for clearing the dungeon was to find the key in the apartment building that would open the sealed box and set their souls free."
Wan Zuo, who was listening, asked doubtfully, "From what Yumi said, this dungeon doesn't seem very difficult, but..."
Wan Zuo paused and glanced at Ying Qiang and Yue Di, who had failed the mission. He knew that while this dungeon sounded easy, the process was definitely not.
Yumi glanced at Chi Hao, who was talking to Jing Minghe, and replied to Wan Zuo, "This dungeon is indeed not difficult for someone, but it might not be for others. That apartment building is not small, and upon entering, you know nothing. Yet, there's a time limit of only one day."
Tong Zheng nodded and said, "That's right. In the previous dungeon, Minghe also said that there wouldn't be clear objectives, and we'd have to guess. It seems all dungeons are the same in this regard. So how did you find out the dungeon's mission?"
Yumi pointed at Chi Hao, "He captured all the little ghosts and interrogated them one by one, analyzing the dungeon's mission from the story's background."
Tong Zheng and Wan Zuo exchanged glances, and four words simultaneously popped into their minds: simple and crude.
The others finally understood why Yumi had said, "It's not difficult for someone, but it might not be for others." After all, who would have thought, or dared, to interrogate the ghosts in the dungeon like Chi Hao did? Even if someone did, it would likely only be Jing Minghe, who acted similarly to Chi Hao.
"Also," Yumi added, "besides setting their souls free, the condition for clearing the dungeon is to make those boys willingly become the little ghost's slaves until her resentment completely dissipates."
Indeed, it wasn't simple.
As they were discussing, the train's broadcast suddenly sounded.
"Passengers Mr. Tong Zheng, Mr. Wan Zuo, and Mr. Jing Minghe, please proceed to Carriage Eight."
Upon hearing the broadcast, Ke Wuwen asked in confusion, "What's going on? Didn't the idol already clear a dungeon? Why is it the idol's turn so soon?"
As Ke Wuwen spoke, he looked at Jing Minghe with a worried expression.
Jing Minghe, however, seemed indifferent and even smiled, "It's fine, this is even better. Rather than waiting outside, I prefer to experience it myself."
He then winked at Chi Hao and said, "Good brother, wait and see how I clear this train."
"Okay," Chi Hao kissed Jing Minghe on the forehead as if no one else was there, his tone doting, "My darling, you're the most amazing."
Jing Minghe raised an eyebrow, "Of course!"
With that, Jing Minghe, bolder than Chi Hao, kissed Chi Hao directly on the lips. However, under the train broadcast's urging, the kiss could only be a brief one.
"Brother," Jing Minghe whispered into Chi Hao's ear before they parted, "After this dungeon ends, let's do some things that lovers should do, how about it?"
"Okay."
Chi Hao's simple reply was the highest form of trust in Jing Minghe.
The door to Carriage Eight slowly closed after Jing Minghe and the other two entered.
Ke Wuwen, usually optimistic, looked at the door of Carriage Eight as if he were about to cry.
Yumi stepped forward, concerned, "Wuwen? What's wrong?"
"I..." Ke Wuwen lowered his head and said, "I'm fine. It's just... I don't know why, I'm a bit scared."
"Don't worry," Yumi comforted Ke Wuwen, "Minghe, Tong Zheng, and Wan Zuo are all very smart. They'll definitely succeed."
Ke Wuwen grunted, "I know they're all very capable, especially the idol. No problem is too difficult for him. I just..."
Ke Wuwen didn't dare to say it. He was actually thinking that if he were chosen for the carriage with people outside their team, he would have a hard time clearing it with his own strength. He knew in his heart that he had come this far not only by a little luck but by the protection of Jing Minghe and the others. Without them, he would have died long ago.
Although he had been prepared to die since he entered, he didn't want to die now. It wasn't out of fear of death, but out of reluctance. He was reluctant to leave his favorite idol, the kind and beautiful Yumi sister, and even more reluctant to leave... Big Brother Tong Zheng, who always found fault with him but always protected him.
"I understand," Yumi patted Ke Wuwen's shoulder and looked back. Chi Hao, who had been very calm before Jing Minghe entered, was now filled with worry. She said softly, "Even if we believe they can succeed, we can't control our hearts that worry for each other."
·
Wan Zuo looked at the scene before him and exclaimed, "So the carriage dungeon is such a large independent space?"
"It's a school," Tong Zheng said, looking behind them. "Behind us is an indistinct white mist. We can only go forward."
They were standing at the entrance of a school. The school looked normal, but of course, it only looked normal. As for what was inside, that remained to be seen.
"Let's go."
Jing Minghe took the lead and walked in.
As the three of them stepped through the school gate, they saw an old man approaching from the side and stopped simultaneously.
The old man walked up to them, grinning, and said, "You must be the new teachers. I'm here to pick you up on behalf of the principal. Please follow me."
Jing Minghe nodded, "Please lead the way."
The old man walked ahead, leading them while explaining, "It's the holiday period, but some students live too far away and stayed at school during the break. The principal was worried they might run around and get into trouble, so he organized activity classes to take attendance daily."
Tong Zheng asked, "What kind of activity classes?"
The old man paused and looked back at Tong Zheng, "Don't the teachers know? It's art, tennis, and self-defense. You three will each be in charge of one subject until the school officially reopens."
Jing Minghe pressed, "How many students are there in total?"
"Oh, there are thirty-two students in total," the old man smiled and said, "The principal said that after school reopens, not a single one can be missing."